System and method for actively cooling an ultrasound probe

Abstract

An ultrasound system is provided for imaging an object. The ultrasound system includes an ultrasound probe for acquiring ultrasound data and a cooling subsystem for actively removing heat from the ultrasound probe. The cooling subsystem includes a pump disposed within a reservoir containing a coolant and configured to circulate the coolant through the ultrasound probe via a conduit.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. An ultrasound system, comprising:
 a portable ultrasound probe for contacting a subject and acquiring ultrasound data, comprising: 
 a self-contained cooling subsystem disposed in said portable ultrasound probe configured to actively removing heat from the ultrasound probe, the self-contained cooling subsystem comprising a pump configured to circulate a coolant through the ultrasound probe via a conduit, the pump being disposed within a reservoir containing the coolant; and a compliant element in a high-pressure portion of the conduit configured to suppress pressure vibrations, wherein the self-contained cooling subsystem is disposed within the portable ultrasound probe. 
 
     
     
       2. The ultrasound system of  claim 1 , wherein the cooling subsystem further comprises a first heat exchanger thermally coupled to the ultrasound probe and the conduit configured to remove heat from the ultrasound probe. 
     
     
       3. The ultrasound system of  claim 1 , wherein the cooling subsystem further comprises a second heat exchanger thermally coupled to the conduit configured to remove heat from the coolant. 
     
     
       4. The ultrasound system of  claim 3 , wherein the cooling subsystem further comprises a cooling fan configured to cool the second heat exchanger. 
     
     
       5. The ultrasound system of  claim 1 , wherein the coolant is a dielectric liquid. 
     
     
       6. The ultrasound system of  claim 1 , wherein the conduit comprises a plastic tube. 
     
     
       7. The ultrasound system of  claim 1 , wherein the coolant is circulated in a closed loop path. 
     
     
       8. The ultrasound system of  claim 1 , wherein the conduit is fastened at one or more joints via fasteners configured to reduce coolant loss at the one or more joints. 
     
     
       9. The ultrasound system of  claim 1 , wherein the cooling subsystem further comprises a fluid level sensor configured to monitor coolant level within the reservoir. 
     
     
       10. The ultrasound system of  claim 1 , wherein the cooling subsystem further comprises an orifice into the reservoir configured to replenish the coolant within the reservoir. 
     
     
       11. The ultrasound system of  claim 1 , wherein the cooling subsystem further comprises a damping material between the pump and the reservoir configured to reduce acoustic noise. 
     
     
       12. The ultrasound system of  claim 1 , wherein the compliant element comprises a boundary between the coolant and air or vapor within the reservoir partially filled with the coolant. 
     
     
       13. The ultrasound system of  claim 1 , wherein the compliant element comprises a membrane or a bellows between the coolant and air or vapor within the reservoir partially filled with the coolant or between the coolant and outside environment. 
     
     
       14. The ultrasound system of  claim 1 , wherein the compliant element comprises a compliant tube placed near the pump outlet within the reservoir. 
     
     
       15. The ultrasound system of  claim 14 , further comprising a metal braid, a piece of solder wick, or a piece of larger-diameter less compliant/non-compliant tubing disposed over the compliant tube configured to reduce over-expansion of the compliant tube. 
     
     
       16. An ultrasound system, comprising:
 a portable ultrasound probe configured to contact a subject and acquiring ultrasound data; and 
 a self-contained cooling subsystem configured to actively remove heat from the ultrasound probe, the self-contained cooling subsystem comprising:
 a pump configured to circulate a coolant through the ultrasound probe via a conduit, wherein the pump is disposed within a reservoir containing the coolant; and 
 a compliant element in a high-pressure portion of the conduit configured to suppress pressure vibrations, wherein the self-contained cooling subsystem is disposed within the ultrasound probe. 
 
 
     
     
       17. A self-contained system configured to actively cool a portable ultrasound probe, the self-contained system comprising:
 a pump configured to circulate a coolant through the portable ultrasound probe via a conduit, wherein the pump is disposed within a reservoir containing the coolant; and 
 a compliant element in a high-pressure portion of the conduit configured to suppress pressure vibrations, wherein the self-contained system is disposed within the portable ultrasound probe. 
 
     
     
       18. The system of  claim 17 , further comprising a first heat exchanger thermally coupled to the apparatus and the conduit configured to remove heat from the apparatus. 
     
     
       19. The system of  claim 17 , further comprising a second heat exchanger thermally coupled to the conduit configured to remove heat from the coolant. 
     
     
       20. A method for actively cooling a portable ultrasound probe, the method comprising:
 circulating a coolant through the portable ultrasound probe via a conduit by a pump, wherein the pump is disposed within a reservoir containing the coolant; 
 suppressing pressure vibrations in a high-pressure portion of the conduit via a compliant element; and 
 cooling the ultrasound probe from within using a self-contained cooling subsystem disposed in the portable ultrasound probe. 
 
     
     
       21. The method of  claim 20 , further comprising removing heat from the ultrasound probe via a first heat exchanger thermally coupled to the ultrasound probe and the conduit. 
     
     
       22. The method of  claim 20 , further comprising removing heat from the coolant via a second heat exchanger thermally coupled to the conduit. 
     
     
       23. The method of  claim 22 , further comprising cooling the second heat exchanger via a cooling fan.